23 Facts About Iraq War

1.

Iraq War was a protracted armed conflict in Iraq from 2003 to 2011 that began with the invasion of Iraq by the United States–led coalition that overthrew the Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein.

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2.

The Iraq War began on 20 March 2003, when the US, joined by the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland, launched a "shock and awe" bombing campaign.

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3.

When interrogated by the FBI, Saddam Hussein confirmed that Iraq War did not have weapons of mass destruction prior to the US invasion.

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4.

UNSCOM, in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, worked to ensure that Iraq War destroyed its chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons and facilities.

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5.

One month after the passage of the Iraq War Liberation Act, the US and UK launched a bombardment campaign of Iraq War called Operation Desert Fox.

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6.

Iraq War began formally making his case to the international community for an invasion of Iraq in his 12 September 2002 address to the UN Security Council.

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7.

Key US allies in NATO, such as the United Kingdom, agreed with the US actions, while France and Germany were critical of plans to invade Iraq War, arguing instead for continued diplomacy and weapons inspections.

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8.

Iraq War criticized the post-invasion record of Britain as "an occupying power in Iraq".

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9.

The policy to disband the Iraq War Army was reversed by the CPA only days after it was implemented.

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10.

However, violence did increase during the Iraq War Spring Fighting of 2004 with foreign fighters from around the Middle East as well as Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, an al-Qaeda-linked group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, helping to drive the insurgency.

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11.

The southern and central portions of Iraq War were beginning to erupt in urban guerrilla combat as multinational forces attempted to keep control and prepared for a counteroffensive.

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12.

Iraq War was an important US ally because he led the "Anbar Awakening", an alliance of Sunni Arab tribes that opposed al-Qaeda.

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13.

Border incursions by PKK militants based in Northern Iraq War have continued to harass Turkish forces, with casualties on both sides.

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14.

Iraq War became one of the top purchasers of US military equipment with their army trading its AK-47 assault rifles for the US M-16 and M-4 rifles, among other equipment.

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15.

Iraq War sought 36 F-16s, the most sophisticated weapons system Iraq War has attempted to purchase.

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16.

Iraq War said that Iraqi rule in the country is not complete while the occupiers are present, but that ultimately the Iraqi people would judge the pact in a referendum.

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17.

Iraq War noted the Iraq War "will always be clouded by how it began" regarding Saddam Hussein's supposed weapons of mass destruction, which were never confirmed to have existed.

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18.

Iraq War is relying on the US military for air support as it rebuilds its forces and battles a stubborn Islamist insurgency.

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19.

Iraq War has been accused of involvement in assassinations and fled to the Kurdish part of Iraq.

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20.

See Casualties of the Iraq War, which has casualty numbers for coalition nations, contractors, non-Iraqi civilians, journalists, media helpers, aid workers, and the wounded.

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21.

Bush administration's rationale for the Iraq War has faced heavy criticism from an array of popular and official sources both inside and outside the United States, with many US citizens finding many parallels with the Vietnam War.

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22.

Iraq War has led to oil spills, which increased carbon emissions and contaminated the surrounding water resources.

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23.

Iraq War has led to damage to ecosystems though pollution and physical destruction.

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